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A Chinese financial company, through the introduction of action learning methodology, identified core problems from strategy, and finally solved the core strategic problems by forming action learning teams of middle and senior managers, and in the process improved the mindset and capabilities of middle and senior managers. This account of Practice is a reflection from the lead facilitator as he reflects on his own action learning facilitation skills through a review and introduction of this programme design and team-led process, including how to design action learning that integrates offline and online. The content can be used as a reference for other facilitators who are interested in action learning.

This study conducted a nationwide specific assessment of soil chromium (Cr) contamination status in 506 of China's industrial regions. The overall soil Cr concentrations were 0.74–37,967.33 mg/kg, and the soil Cr content in 4.15% of the regions exceeded the reference screening value (2500 mg/kg). Geochemical accumulation index (Igeo) and monomial potential ecological risk index (E) revealed Cr salt production and tanning were the primary control industries. The non-carcinogenic risks posed by Cr salt production and tanning industries were higher than the national average values, and children were the most vulnerable groups. The heavily polluted regions were mainly located at the Yangtze River Delta, the Bohai Rim, the Pearl River Delta, the Yangtze River Basin, and the Yellow River Basin. The Yangtze River Delta was further identified as the high priority control area based on the class distribution of Igeo and E. Regression analysis showed the soil Cr concentrations in industrial regions increased during 2002–2009 and then turned into a declining trend in 2009–2021. This paper gives detailed insights into soil Cr pollution status in industrial regions across China and the results may serve as references for formulating tailored control measures for different industries and areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead (Pb) is a typical toxic heavy metal element in soils and plants, which has a potential threat to human health through the food chain. Uptake of Pb in the soil–vegetable system has attracted broad attention, whereas reports on the main controlling factors of Pb uptake and accumulation in different soil–vegetable systems are limited. The effect of soil properties on Pb uptake and accumulation in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) was studied by a pot experiment with 16 typical soils in China. The results showed that the Pb bioavailability was lower in alkaline soils, and that soil cation exchange capacity (CEC), CaCO3, and total phosphorus contents might influence the uptake and transfer of Pb by peppers. Soil pH and CEC were the most significant factors affecting Pb accumulation in pepper fruits. Soil pH was negatively correlated with Pb uptake and accumulation due to its influence on Pb mobility and bioavailability. The accumulation of Pb decreased as soil CEC increased, which might inhibit the absorption and transfer of Pb in peppers. The multiple linear regression function based on soil Pb content, pH, and CEC could provide enough information for a good prediction of the accumulation of Pb in soil–pepper systems (R2 = 0.733). The results are in favor of developing a Pb threshold for vegetables in agricultural soils in China, thus improving the food safety of crops. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1443–1451. © 2021 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental risk of heavy metal pollution is pronounced in soils adjacent to large industrial complexes. It is important to investigate the functioning of soil microorganisms in ecosystems exposed to long-term contamination by heavy metals. We studied the potential effects of heavy metals on microbial biomass, activity, and community composition in soil near a copper smelter in China. The results showed that microbial biomass C was negatively affected by the elevated metal levels and was closely correlated with heavy metal stress. Enzyme activity was greatly depressed by conditions in the heavy metal-contaminated sites. Good correlation was observed between enzyme activity and the distance from the smelter. Elevated metal loadings resulted in changes in the activity of the soil microbe, as indicated by changes in their metabolic profiles from correlation analysis. Significant decrease of soil phosphatase activities was found in the soils 200m away from the smelter. Polymerase chain reaction–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR–DGGE) analysis demonstrated that heavy metals pollution had a significant impact on bacterial and actinomycetic community structure. There were negative correlations between soil microbial biomass, phosphatase activity, and NH4NO3 extractable heavy metals. The soil microorganism activity and community composition could be predicted significantly using the availability of Cu and Zn. By combining different monitoring approaches from different viewpoints, the set of methods applied in this study were sensitive to site differences and contributed to a better understanding of heavy metals effects on the structure, size and activity of microbial communities in soils. The data presented demonstrate the role of heavy metals pollution in understanding the heavy metal toxicity to soil microorganism near a copper smelter in China. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Lead (Pb) contaminated in farmlands has become a deep threat to global food security and human health. In this study, the bioavailability of Pb in 18 types of soil to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grains were investigated, and reliable empirical models of Pb in wheat grains were established based on soil properties. The results showed that the average bioconcentration factor (BCF grain/total-Pb) in acidic soils was approximately 3.30 times than that in alkaline soils (ANOVA P < 0.05). Significant positive relationships between wheat grain Pb concentration and soil total Pb or EDTA extractable Pb were presented through the results of simple linear regressions (P < 0.001). The stepwise multiple linear regression models indicated that soil pH and soil total Pb were determined to be the two most reliable and reasonable factors in predicting wheat grain Pb concentration, with 83.8% explanation of variation. Soil total Pb compared with EDTA extractable Pb was applied to better improve prediction models in describing Pb transfer from soils to wheat grains. Furthermore, grouped models divided into two parts with pH of 7.5 also generated well prediction in wheat grain Pb concentration. Our prediction models were successfully verified within 95% prediction intervals for published literature data (including other wheat varieties). Moreover, the results indicated that ungrouped models performed better in predicting accuracy within 400 mg kg−1 of soil total Pb, and grouped models showed better extrapolation stability when Pb in soil were overly high. Our results in the study were conduce to evaluate food security of Pb in contaminated agricultural soils. Image 1 • Leading factors are further determined of Pb transfer in soil-wheat system. • Soil total Pb and pH explain 83.8% variation of Pb in wheat grain. • Grouped models divided as pH 7.5 well extrapolate in wheat grain Pb. • Ungrouped models have better prediction accuracy and complement with grouped models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article seeks to bridge the hitherto disconnected studies of the "woman question" and "religious question" in the twentieth-century Chinese revolution. It focuses on the issues of women's liberation and anti-superstition in Communist propaganda through Xiao Erhei jiehun (Young Blackie gets married), a popular novel by the Communist writer Zhao Shuli (1906-70) published in 1943, and examines its impact in comparative context in wartime Communist base areas. Drawing on the religious culture of the author's native southern Shanxi, this revolutionary classic promoted freedom of marriage through attacking "feudal superstition." The article compares wartime religious and revolutionary culture in Zhao's rural Shanxi with the CCP's cultural and political agendas in its headquarters of Yan'an. Despite its immense success, the novel's original messages of women's liberation and anti-superstition gradually became marginal in the early PRC years - both discourses gave way to the party-state's higher ideological goal of class struggle, and were subsumed into the metanarrative celebrating the absolute leadership of the Communist Party and Mao Zedong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents several abstracts which were presented at the International Pediatric Association Congress, which was held in Shanghai, China on August 30-September 3, 2013, including abstracts on renal scarring in children with first pyelonephritis, urinary tract infections in children and urinary tract infection in infants with antenatally detected duplex kidneys.